1, 2, triple-step, triple-step. Throughout the dance, the lead can choose to do either a triple-step or use his left foot to do tap step on counts 3 and 4.

West Coast Swing Posture

Dance with good posture. Don't lean forward when you dance.
Ladies and gentlemen keep your elbows by your sides with your hands forward.

West Coast Swing Atmosphere

The atmosphere for west coast swing is often a smoke-filled bar filled
with rough-cut men and bad-girl ladies that like hanky panky.
An old piano in an old saloon, an 18th & Vine Jazz bar in the inner city.
The "attitude" for west coast swing is "Ladies be slinky!"

Leading west coast patterns

West Coast Swing is an Intermediate Dance.
It is not fully leadable, and the lady must know her part.
When you pull the lady, Guys, think of pulling with your body and not with your arm.
The man should start by pulling the lady in the direction that he wants her to go.

Slot Dance

West Coast Swing is a slot dance.
The "Slot" is a diving board about 8 to 10 feet long.
The Lady has priority in the slot. Ladies stay on their diving board.
The Lady travels from one end of the diving board to the other.
Each side is hot lava. The lady stays in the slot and the guy moves out of the way.
The guy's patterns are more circular. The man stays in the middle of the diving board,
but steps to the side of the board to let the lady go by.

Starting Position

Almost all patterns start in open position with the hook grip.
At the beginning of each pattern, the man's left foot is forward pointing toward the slot.
His right foot instep is behind his left heel.
At the beginning of each pattern, the lady's right foot is forward pointing toward the slot.
Her left foot instep is behind her right heel.

Transitioning from East Coast to West Coast Swing (Preparatory Basic w/Throw-Out Release):

(Start the west-coast swing from a preparatory closed triple-step basic. Guy doesn't travel during this step):
push the lady back for her rock step on 1, 2, then:
→ throw the lady out along her slot on 3-and pivot 4, anchor step 5&6.
Or → lead lady out on a underarm turn 3-and-4, anchor step 5&6.

Transitioning from West Coast to East Coast Swing (Transitioning to back to closed position Triple Lindy):

Whip catch method:
bring her in like a whip 1, 2, just don't turn the corner, triple-step to the left, triple-step to the right.

Left Side Pass catch Method:
lead her in a left side pass 1, 2, then triple-step with her and catch her 3&4, then triple-step the other way.

Sugar tuck basic: Pull her toward you using a two-hand lead 1, 2, guys push her right hand back and pull her left hand toward your shoulder and stop on 3, with your left hand raise her right hand over her head, she turns both feet ½ turn and steps forward down the slot, she finishes the turn and anchor steps on 5-and-6.

Basket (or "man around the woman"): Lady goes forward 1, forward 2, forward together back 3&4, back 5, back 6, anchor step 7&8. Guys, do a sugar push and catch 2 hands, then lift one hand and leave the other hand down by her stomach.

Waist catch (footwork same as Basket): One hand lead → catch lady in the tummy with the right hand.

Woman around the Man: Guy take your left hand over your head, leave your right hand at waist level.